By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Narcotics investigators in St. John the Baptist Parish arrested a Reserve man Wednesday who is accused of dealing cocaine from his Homewood Place residence, according to a Sheriff’s Office spokesman.

Keith Hart Jr., 27, of 530 Homewood Place, was arrested at his home Wednesday after authorities found more than $2,000 worth of crack cocaine during a court-ordered search, said Capt. Dane Clement, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office. Clement said the raid was the culmination of a brief investigation into possible drug activity at the home.

“Detectives received a number of citizen complaints of illegal activity at the residence,” Clement said. “The tips we received were pivotal in the investigation and arrest.”

Clement said in addition to the drugs, narcotics agents also recovered a .40-caliber semi automatic handgun and various drug paraphernalia inside the home.

Hart’s arrest Wednesday comes nearly a month after narcotics agents arrested his cousin, 26-year-old Leejardain Hart, in a similar incident. Clement said Leejardain Hart was booked on various drug charges after authorities caught him dealing marijuana from his home on East 26th Street in Reserve. Sheriff Wayne Jones said he has put additional deputies in the narcotics division and said the group is working a series of other similar cases in the parish.

Hart was booked into the Sherman Walker Correctional Facility in LaPlace on charges of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance. He is being held on a $43,000 bond.